Sponge brush



R. w. MAIR SPONGE BRUSH Aug. 4, 1936.

' Filed Dec. 50, 1935 I f Q. .1;

Patented Aug. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPONGE BRUSH Richard w. Mair, Battle Creek, Mich. Application December 30, 1933, Serial No. 704,776

I 7 Claims (01. 15- 244) My invention relates in 'general'to sponge brushes, but more particularly to sponge cleaning utensils made in theconve'nientform, size and shape of what are commonly referred to as whisk brooms or broom brushes made from broom-corn, bristles or other fibers. The main object of my invention is to augment the stiffness of the sponge used as a Wiping material or brush by providing the sponge with a manufactured skeleton, the stiffness of which. will be added to the innate stiffness of the sponge'itself. 'Another'object of my inventionis to devise a brush or' broom of sponge, which will be stiffened by firmly placing within it a fabricated skeleton fashioned to provide sufficient stifiness to both handle and brush portion of the sponge so that it may readily be used, either Wet or dry, for cleaning and brushing purposes.

The term. sponge used herein has reference 'to the skeleton or pliable fibrous massconstructed by-minute sponge organisms of natural sea growth, not to the animal organisms.

I attain-the objects of my invention by the devices illustrated in the drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows a partially sectioned whisk broom made in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 shows the reinforcing skeleton as fabricated from Wire.

Fig. 3 shows the wire skeleton for a mop or utility form of brush.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of a figure representing a section of sponge and illustrates the cutting process whereby the sponge is cut internally so as to permit the insertion of the Wire skeleton;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic edge view of a figure representing a section of sponge further illustrating the cutting process so as to permit the insertion of the furcated looped extremities of the wire skeleton into recesses in the sponge;

Fig. 6 represents a plan view of a completed all-sponge brush;

Fig. '7 represents a plan view of a sponge mop or utility brush.

Describing the drawing in greater detail: In Fig. l, A represents wire; Al--twists in wire handle; A2--skeleton wire loop finger; Ail-one of the furcated stabbed recesses cut to admit wire loop finger; B-sponge fiber mass; and C- binding ties such as cord, wire or other appropriate material.

In Fig. 3, A represents free ends of wire extending into hole drilled into center of end of wooden handle; A2-skeleton wire loop fingers; Cl-groove in wooden handle to receive binding and the sponge bound down to form the comof a wooden handle.

ties; D-wooden handle; Dl-shoulder in wooden handle to receive additional binding ties; and

" Ehole drilled'into end of center of wooden handle. H

'In Fig. 4, A3 shows position of furcated stabbed 5 recesses to receive skeleton wire loop fingers; B-sponge fiber mass; F-sponge fiap; G-apex of sponge section; JJ-hinge or axis line on which flap isbent; J l -point where stabbing M knife is inserted after flap F has been bent on axis line J'-J; and K-splitting knife.

In Fig. 5, A3 represents position of furcated stabbed recesses to receive skeleton wire loop' fingers: B-sponge fiber-mass; and F-fiap bent on axis JJ.

InFig. 6, A represents wire ring; B-sponge fiber mass; and Cbinding ties.

-In'Fig. 7, B represents sponge fiber mass; C- bindingties; and D- wooden handle.

The varieties of sea sponge scientifically 20 termed Hippospongia graminea and, Hippospongia cerebriformis and commercially known as grass are more adaptable than others to employment in my invention because of the fact that these natural sea growths are hollow-coni- 25 cal or bell-shaped and their fibers run in a general longitudinal direction, so that sections may readily be cut, each of which conforms to the general form and size of a whisk broom. Without a. firm skeleton member inserted and 30 made fast within the sponge, these sections lack suificient innate stiffness of form to render them of convenient or effective use as brushes.

Briefly describing the process of making a whisk broom of the type illustrated in Fig. 1, the section of sponge B, Figs. 4 and 5, is split as indicated, and then stabbed to form' divergent recesses A3. The looped fingers of the skeleton, Fig. 2, are then inserted in the stabbed recesses,

40 pleted handle.

When, in accord with my invention, a brush is made in the form of a'mop or utility brush, the spinal member of the skeleton is increased in length exterior to the brush by employment The sponge section is split and the wire skeleton loop fingers inserted as in the all-sponge brush; the free ends of the skeleton are inserted in the central hole drilled into the base of the handle; the flap bent into place and secured to the handle. When a very small sponge is used in constructing a mop or utility brush, one internal loop finger member is found suflicient.

r The employment of looped reinforcement mem- 55 part of a sponge brush or broom, comprising a.- section or slab of sponge shaped in the approxi mate form of an isosceles triangle, the altitude of which approximates the desired length of brush and the base of which approximates the desired width of the brush, the said slab-having,

an edgewise and longitudinal split or cleft in its apex-end and at least one internal recess in its base-end, the said split and recess being in internal continuity one with another.

2. An element for incorporation as an integral part of a sponge brush or broom, comprising a section or slab of natural sea sponge scientifically termed Hippospongia graminea and/or Hippospongia cerebriformis and comercially known as grass sponge the said section or slab being shaped in the approximate form of an isosceles triangle the altitude of which approximates the desired length of the brush and the base of which approximates the desired'width of the brush, the said slob having an edgewise and longitudinal split or cleft in its apex-end: and at least one integral recess in its base-end,

the said split and recess being in internal. continuity one with another.

3. In a brush or broom, the combination of the element set forth in claim 1, with a wire reinforcing skeleton having at least one looped extremity in continuity with a spinal member,

the said looped extremity resting within the recess of the sponge element, and the spinal member resting within the cleft of said element and secured in position by external binders around the sponge. v

4. In a brush or broom, the combination of the element set forth in claim 2, with a wire reinforcing skeleton having at least one looped extremity in continuity with a spinal member, the said looped extremity resting within the recess of the sponge element, and the spinal member resting within the cleft. of said element and secured in position by external binders around the sponge.

5. A brush or broom made from natural sea sponge having handle and brushing portions at opposite ends thereof, and characterized by unidirectionaldfiber structure which in the construction of the brush is arrangedto run substantiallyqlongitudinal from the handle to brushing portions thereof. 7

6'. A brush or broom made from natural sea sponge and provided with. an internal skeleton and. having; handle and brushing portions at opposite ends thereof, the sponge body. of the brush being characterizedfirst, by being constructed from sponge having a unidirectional fiber structure which in the construction of the brush is arranged to run substantially longitudinal from the handle to the brushing portions thereof,, and second, by. having; two broad oppositelyedisposed faces otsubstantially untrimmed sponge; o

7.. In. a brush or broomas set: forth in claim 6, wherein the internal skeleton is manufactured from comparatively stiff wire and has. at leastyone looped extremity resting within a re?- cess-l between the broad untrimmediaces of. the.

I RICHARD w.

QEB l ICA E OF COBRECTIONK Patent No, 2,049,852. August 4, 1956.

RICHARD W. MAIR.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, first column, line 55, claim 2, for "slob" read slab; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of September, A. D. 1936.

Henry Van Arsdale jer Hni\. Acting Commissioner of Patents 

